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Tuesday, September 13, 2016

Buckle up, you won't believe what the Forest Hills Superintendent just said about the American flag...

Responding to complaints from Ottawa Hills students upset with Forest Hills students for waving an American flag and a Trump flag at a recent football game, Dan Behm, the Forest Hills Superintendent, referred to American and Trump flags as symbols of "hate and exclusion."

"Forest Hills Superintendent Dan Behm has apologized for the actions of a
group of students who upset many during a Friday Grand Rapids football
game by brazenly waving a Donald Trump political flag and a "Betsy Ross"
13-star flag.

Grand Rapids Public Schools' Ottawa Hills High played Forest Hills
Central at Houseman Field on Sept. 9. GRPS school leaders, parents and
community members found the presentation of the flags at a game hosted
by a predominately black high school to be inappropriate...

"Parading our current United States flag in a manner that is
inconsistent with proper etiquette is disrespectful to all who have
served our nation. And, to wave a historical version of our flag, that
to some symbolizes exclusion and hate, injects hostility and confusion
to an event where no one intended to do so. To our gracious hosts—the
students, families, staff, and community of Grand Rapids Ottawa Hills
High School and Grand Rapids Public Schools—and to the student-athletes,
coaches, officials, and supporters of both teams, we are truly sorry."

And now school leaders want to spread this BS across Michigan to the rest of the MHSAA!

"I cannot deny the hurt, disrespect, and outrage that I and so many
others in this community felt about these actions that took place in our
backyard, in our home at Houseman Field," said Neal, who thanked those
who expressed their deep concerns and disappointment about what
transpired.

"This type of behavior should not and will not be tolerated in our
stadium or schools – nor should it in any across our state and nation."

Neal agreed with Behm that as educators they need to use this as a
teachable moment. She said they could work together with the Kent ISD
and the Michigan High School Athletic Association to ensure everyone is
better informed, more culturally sensitive, and prepared to create an
atmosphere where everyone is welcomed, respected and can enjoy an
athletic event together."

Wow... What the hell is happening to this country, where waving a flag supporting a Presidential candidate and another flag supporting America has such a twisted response.

Their is a movement in this country that is desperately trying to eliminate key aspects of American history-the American flag is the next target of this PC rampage and it can not be tolerated.

Orwell nailed it: "he who controls the present controls the past, he who controls the past controls the future."

Behm

One can reach Superintendent Behm and let them know what they think of his disgusting comments at the following number-please be respectful to staff.

The email I just sent to Mr Behm (please use as an open letter to your readers):

Subj: Black, 34 year Vet, retired Colonel

Mr Behm,I am personally insulted by your comments. Your generalization of how "Black People" feel about a version of our National Flag is itself a form of racism. I fought for our nation. More importantly, I led graduates of High Schools across this country---under our flag. Just come out in the open and plainly say that you did not like the Trump sign. The tone of you statement seems to call this display of patriotism a racist action. So, essentially, you believe this was the work of deplorable and nonredeemable students? Generalizing, it seems we demean these young adults and then expect them to volunteer to defend this country, our Constitution (read this as 1st amendment), and our flag!?I hope you open your heart to all Americans in the future,Colonel Frank Brooks, USAF, Retired

Response from Mr Behm... Although I don't believe all of the apologizes were necessary and I don't believe in "safe zones", I believe he reacted with patriotic intentions. Col BTrump '16

Thanks for your e-mail. You must have seen a story on a news outlet that only has an interest in telling part of a story. The full story would not garner the ratings needed to feed the 24-hour news cycle.

I apologized to our neighboring community and to all people who have defended this nation for three things. First, this game was a night where our kids commemorate September 11th. We do this every year at the football game closest to September 11th. Unfortunately, one student decided to interject partisan politics into this event and throughout most of the game. It is his right to do so, but this is not the appropriate place or time. September 11th and high school football games are not about partisan politics; I do not care which candidate one is supporting. Second, I apologized because several of our students were not treating the flag of the United States of America with the respect it deserves. Wearing the flag as a cape and running around with it so parts of it drag on the ground is not only disrespectful, it is a slap in the face to every service member who fought for our country. The last reason I apologized was for those people who misinterpreted one student who had a 13 stars flag and felt that it was some sort of racial animus toward the opposing team and spectators. It was not. This fear seemed to be fueled by the opposing fans wondering if our kids were yelling a racist chant. They were not. The fact that some may view this flag - the same flag that hangs in the Smithsonian and adorns the official seal of the Department of Veterans Affairs - as some sort of symbol of hate is very sad. Our student did not intend to offend anyone. I was apologizing in the event any player or spectator felt these innocent actions were perceived in any way as racial animus. No students were disciplined as no ill intent was behind any of these actions. However, our neighboring community and many in our own community were offended by some of these actions. I was most offended by the way our flag was not handled with the etiquette and respect it always deserves.

It seems a news outlet only told the portion of the story that fits a false narrative that implies that our nation's public schools have run amuck, are bastions of liberal indoctrination, and do little to instill character and integrity in kids. I don't imagine they will wish to cover the massive ceremonies we have on Veteran's Day, or cover the large number of our students who attend the service academies each year, or discuss the world-class academic achievement our students produce year in and year out. No, this does not get ratings or feed the 24-hour news cycle and it certainly doesn't fit the narrative that he needed to peddle today. Based on the e-mails that I am getting, I am sure he got big ratings and he'll likely be better positioned to get a bigger paycheck. Sadly, this is the world of "news" today.